Health Care: Senate Democrats Admit They Blew It (VIDEO)

Health Care: Senate Democrats Admit They Blew It (VIDEO)
Here's a video that shows what the Democratic leadership might sound like if they were forced to tell the truth about how they caved to Joe Lieberman and the Republicans in this latest round of the health care fight.
AirAmerica

Gold, women and sheep

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Prescott Financial Sells Gold, Women & Sheep
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Stephen Colbert targets all those conservative talk show hosts -- Glenn Beck especially -- who shill for gold sellers like Goldline, both in advertisements and on their shows: "The money is perfectly laundered."
TPM

Bill O'Reilly: "The Atheists Are Just Stupid For Making People Angry"

Bill O'Reilly: "The Atheists Are Just Stupid For Making People Angry"

December 15, 2009 on FOX News with Ann Coulter via http://atheistmedia.com

McCain Attacks Harry Reid for Slavery Remarks in Health Care Debate

McCain Attacks Harry Reid for Slavery Remarks in Health Care Debate.

First 'bionic fingers' unveiled

First 'bionic fingers' unveiled

British scientists have unveiled what they say are the world's first bionic fingers, suggesting they could change the lives of thousands.

100 false Republican claims about health care reform

100 false Republican claims about health care reform


New DNC ad attacks Republican misinformation on health care reform

Our Girls, Tribute to Conservative Women

Our Girls, Tribute to Conservative Women by Lloyd Marcus
From the "American Tea Party: 12 great songs to Take Back America" cd album by Lloyd Marcus, Unhyphenated American.
A catchy bit of right wing nuttery!

Student to Obama: Legalize Drugs, Prostitution to Stimulate the Economy

Student to Obama: Legalize Drugs, Prostitution to Stimulate the Economy
Good question, disappointing answer.

What would you say if you were Obama?

Atheist Billboard Stirs God Debate

It is the Central Florida billboard condemned by Christians. Now it is pulling people into a big debate over God in Lakeland. Atheists invited people to join them, and Christians are pushing back firmly.

Thanksgiving Prayer William S Burroughs

Thanksgiving Day, Nov 28,1986 first appeared in the chapbook Tornado Alley, with illustrations by S. Clay Wilson. Gus Van Sant then made a short film of Burroughs reading the text.
This poem resonates today as exposing what has gone horribly wrong in the USA, or maybe what has always been wrong.
Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 1986

William S. Burroughs
For John Dillinger
In hope he is still alive
Thanks for the wild turkey and the Passenger Pigeons, destined to be shit out through wholesome American guts
thanks for a Continent to despoil and poison
thanks for Indians to provide a modicum of challenge and danger
thanks for vast herds of bison to kill and skin, leaving the carcass to rot
thanks for bounties on wolves and coyotes
thanks for the AMERICAN DREAM to vulgarize and falsify until the bare lies shine through
thanks for the KKK, for nigger-killing lawmen feeling their notches, for decent church-going women with their mean, pinched, bitter, evil faces
thanks for Kill a Queer for Christ stickers
thanks for laboratory AIDS
thanks for Prohibition and the War Against Drugs
thanks for a country where nobody is allowed to mind his own business
thanks for a nation of finks — yes,
thanks for all the memories all right, lets see your arms you always were a headache and you always were a bore
thanks for the last and greatest betrayal of the last and greatest of human dreams.

Mrs. Betty Bowers: Less is Mormon!

America's Best Christian, Mrs. Betty Bowers, calls out Mormons and schools all Americans on the unconstitutional craze of doling out civil rights by popular vote.

Former Teen Idol Kirk Cameron is on a Crusade to Debunk Evolution

CNN: Former Teen Idol Kirk Cameron is on a Crusade to Debunk Evolution

Ann Coulter Debates Cheech & Chong About Legalizing Marijuana

From FOX's Geraldo Rivera: Ann Coulter Debates Cheech & Chong About Legalizing Marijuana - 11/16/09

Ohio State Students Swim In Their Own Pee

MSNBC's David Shuster: Ohio State Students Swim In Their Own Pee - 11/20/09

Christian Bootcamp Seeks to Arm Home-Schooled Youths for "Spiritual Warfare"

Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas, Assistant Director of Operation Save America, is worried. According to studies by the Barna Research Group, California pollsters specializing in tracking religious and spiritual attitudes, only nine percent of teenaged Christians believe in moral absolutes. What’s more, Barna reports that the vast majority of kids raised Christian will abandon all or part of their faith by the time they finish high school. "Assembly of God leaders estimate between 65 and 70 percent will depart, while the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life estimates roughly 88 percent will leave," Thomas writes.

http://www.atheistmedia.com/ AlterNet

MSNBC Interviews Clueless Sarah Palin Supporters At Book Signing

MSNBC Interviews Clueless Sarah Palin Supporters At Michigan Book Signing - 11/18/09

Rationalizing homophobia on Hannity

On Hannity, Andrew McCarthy attempts to explain why homophobia isn't "hatred"

Outcast by religion in Israël

Sometimes religion can be the reason of a family break-up. Orthodox jews in Israël, for instance, can be completely ostracised when they decide to give up the faith of their parents.

Maddow on child labor endorsing, pro-slavery freaks (Video)

Maddow on child labor endorsing, pro-slavery freaks.

The Senate Finance Committee has included sections in the Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009, that would ban the importation of goods made “with convict labor, forced labor, orindentured labor under penal sanctions.”

Industry lobbyists and foreign governments profiting from child labor form an “ad hoc” coalition to oppose it.

Business Groups ‘Worried’ About The Effects Of Banning The Importation Of Goods Made With Child Labor Shocking resistance by business groups to legislative measures that ban slavery and child exploitation. Best "Rachel" line at (06:13) "...you child labor endorsing, pro-slavery freaks!! (Begins about 3:00 minutes in).

Expose: Republican deception and misinformation (Video)

A collection of inaccurate, false and misleading Republican talking points on health care reform courtesy of the Democratic National Committee.

Slavery still has defenders?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

SNL Spoofs Fox News: 2009 Elections

Cartman - Pokerface (Full Song Remix)

Drugs advisor: Alcohol more harmful than LSD

The Government's chief advisor on drugs policy, Professor David Nutt has said that alcohol and tobacco are more harmful than cannabis, ecstasy or LSD.

Billionaires for Wealthcare: Guerrilla Theater: Public Option Annie

Billionaires for Wealthcare is a grassroots network of health insurance CEOs, HMO lobbyists, talk-show hosts, and others profiting off of our broken health care system. We'll do whatever it takes to ensure another decade where your pain is our gain. After all, when it comes to health insurance, if we ain't broke, why fix it?

Homage to a Meme

Patton Oswalt - Sky Cake

WorldNetDaily: Jesus claims Obama is anti-christ

Breaking: WorldNetDaily reports Jesus identified the anti-christ by name: Barack Obama. According to the report, President Obama, leader of the free world, is in fact, the anti-christ.

Indiana atheist on Fox

Inage of Jesus in frying pan

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Baseball playing robot

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Birthers Deconstructed

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Shatner reads Palin Tweets

Feel the groove....

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Opinion // Current // Groups

Greetings Currenteers,

There is a new group at current: Opinion. This group is dedicated to commentary, opinion, editorial or op ed posts. Please have a look: Opinion // Current http://bit.ly/3A4DZd

All points of view are welcome and encouraged.

Please join.

Please contribute.

Peace

PETA condemns Obama for murdering innocent fly

Obama’s ninja-like moves, which resulted in the murder of said fly on Tuesday, has resulted in harsh condemnation of the president by the animal rights group. Well, maybe not that harsh. They view Obama’s actions as perhaps more of a teachable moment. “He isn’t the Buddha, he’s a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act,” writes Alisa Mullins on the PETA blog. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is President Obama a cruel abuser of insects? Or, most honorable, Ninja Master? You make the call.

Check-it RT @current

Atheist Billboard to Go Up in South Florida

The first atheist billboard in South Florida is about to go up thanks to an anonymous donor! The billboard is sponsored by FLASH: Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists.

From the FLASH website:

One of our long term dreams has been to put up a billboard. Thanks to a donor that wishes to remain anonymous that time has come. Barring complications, June 22 should be the start date and be up for one month. Our billboard will be on Sunrise Blvd. facing the west (east bound) between the Swap Shop and I-95. Chip in below and keep it up for another month.

Comic book collector convicted for owning comic

A prolific American collector of Japanese manga comics has reportedly been convicted under the 2003 Protect act of pedophilia for ordering comics which were intercepted by customs.

According to wired's threat level blog, the collector, Christopher Handley, was prosecuted for mailing obscene matter, and possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Three other counts (not listed) were dropped in the plea deal.  

Christopher Handley, described by his lawyer as a “prolific collector” of manga, pleaded guilty last week to mailing obscene matter, and to “possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.” Three other counts were dropped in a plea deal with prosecutors.

Comics fans are alarmed by the case, (.pdf), saying that jailing someone over manga does nothing to protect children from sexual abuse.

“This art that this man possessed as part of a larger collection of manga … is now the basis for [a sentence] designed to protect children from abuse,” says Charles Brownstein, executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. “The drawings are not obscene and are not tantamount to pornography. They are lines on paper.”

Sentencing may extend to 15 years in prison.

Oppose Spiritual Heritage Week

Today, Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia, the Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, and twenty-four other members of the House of Representatives, co-sponsored a resolution in Congress that would “affirm the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation's founding and subsequent history and express support for designation of the first week in May as America's Spiritual Heritage Week for the appreciation of and education on America's history of religious faith.”

The resolution, H.RES. 397, would put Congress on record as “recognize[ing] the religious foundations of faith on which America was built are critical underpinnings of our Nation's most valuable institutions and form the inseparable foundation for America's representative processes, legal systems, and societal structures.”

In addition, the resolution “rejects, in the strongest possible terms, any effort to remove, obscure, or purposely omit such history from our Nation's public buildings and educational resources” and justifies the need to keep “under God” in the pledge. 

Last year, when a similar measure was introduced, 93 members of the House of Representatives co-sponsored this legislation.

Our elected officials need to know that these "Christian nation" resolutions distort America's history and exclude the history of atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheists who have made significant contributions to our nation. 

Their denial of the secular nature of our government means that these members of Congress are not only disagreeing with Americans who know that we are not a Christian nation (and never have been), but they are also disputing our President who recently promoted America’s secular heritage abroad during a trip to Turkey. 

In this new era of promoting science and evidence, no representative should feel compelled to support the agenda of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and their attempts to infuse personal religious values into public policy.

Twitter Whore

http://current.com/items/90101086_twitter-whore.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALbH63Ali9U

Twitter Whore

follow me

http://twitter.com/unimatrix0zero

2010: Year of the Bible?

A Republican House member wants President Barack Obama to make 2010 the Year of the Bible.

There's no sign that Obama will get the chance in the foreseeable future. Georgia Rep. Paul Broun's resolution would have no force of law if passed. And it can't be passed unless majority Democrats, who referred it to a committee, bring it to the floor for a vote.

The resolution reads in part:"The president is encouraged ... to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its greatDemocratic form of government, as well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which has unified, healed and strengthened its people for over 200 years."

Told of the measure, several Democrats and liberal and atheist bloggers objected. Some said it would violate the separation of church and state by advocating one book of faith over others.

Broun said the nation's values are based on those espoused in the Bible."The national year of the Bible resolution reminds us that our great nation was founded upon biblical principles and that religious freedom is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights," he said in a statement. The resolution has 14 co-sponsors.

There is precedent. By signing proclamation 5018, President Ronald Reagan designated 1983 the year of the Bible, "in recognition of the contributions and influence of the Bible on our Republic and our people."

"I encourage all citizens, each in his or her own way, to re-examine and rediscover its priceless and timeless message," the proclamation reads.

Creationism as superstitious nonsense violates First Amendment?

A federal judge has ruled that a history teacher at a Southern California public high school violated the First Amendment when he called creationism "superstitious nonsense" during a classroom lecture.

U.S. District Judge James Selna issued the ruling Friday after a 16-month legal battle between student Chad Farnan and his former teacher, James Corbett.

Farnan's lawsuit alleged that Corbett made more than 20 statements that were disparaging to Christians and their beliefs.

The judge found that Corbett's reference to creationism as "religious, superstitious nonsense" violated the First Amendment's establishment clause. Courts have interpreted the clause as prohibiting government employees from displaying religious hostility.

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Was the Judge right?  Should a teacher be prohibited from saying creationism is "religious superstitious nonsense"?

New Humanism Channel on Current

http://current.com/groups/humanism

"Man is the measure of all things"  Protagoras

"Faith means not wanting to know what is true"  Nietzsche  

What is Humanism?

Humanism is an optimistic stance that entails self determination and the dignity and worth of all people. More than a negation of the supernatural, Humanism is a process by which truth and morality is sought through human investigation. 

Tools of the investigation are reason, science, and the scientific method. Humanism rejects tradition, revelation, and/or mysticism (the supernatural) as appropriate or legitimate tools for determining what is true and moral. Our quest is for the good; our questions revolve around the nature of the good life. 

The ultimate goal is human flourishing: making life better for all humans; promoting concern for the welfare of other sentient beings and the planet as a whole. The focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world a better place for those who come after.

Humanism on Current

As a channel we will investigate the human condition where politics and religion intersect. Informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion, our task is to question the world in pursuit of the good, for one and all.

With an eye towards human and civil rights, church and state, oppression and discrimination, life and death; the Humanism channel will explore all manner of intolerance, bigotry, and injustice. Our task is to explore and expose inhumanity, while promoting the humane, the just, the wise.

Current is a unique and beautiful experiment in virtual community.  As members of the Current community we are social pioneers, participating in a bold new adventure made possible by intellect and reason, science and technology.  As pioneers we have a responsibility to future generations.  We must make this work.  We must practice tolerance and civility.  We must learn to disagree without being disagreeable.  We must strive to be good to one another.

The Humanism channel is a big tent. Feel free to tag "Humanism" to any post that deals with the human condition, with man's inhumanity to man, with the clash between sacred and profane.  Issues both national and international are welcome. Misogyny, homophobia, and persecution of any kind are all humanist concerns.  Any issue where human dignity and human worth comes into question is a Humanist issue.

Ultimately our journey is a philosophical investigation.  Let us proceed in love as we move towards wisdom.

Peace,

unimatrix0  

Christians support torture more than non-believers

If you believe in Jesus, chances are you believe in torture. No doubt Jesus would be proud.


Results from a new Pew Forum poll show that evangelicals and Catholics are more likely than other groups (and more likely than average) to approve of "the use of torture against suspected terrorists." Those most likely to approve of torture some or most of the time are white evangelical Christians. Those least likely are "unaffiliated" and those who rarely or never attend church services. 
-----------------------------------------------------------


Why are Christians more likely to support torture than non-believers?

Sex in the dumpster

POLICE have arrested a young naked couple after they were discovered having sex in the back of a garbage truck.
The police officer's surprise discovery came after reports of people walking suspiciously behind a business in an area of British Columbia last week.

"When the officer was out of his car having a look around, checking doors he could hear noises coming from the dumpster," said Sgt. John Price. 

The officer called out and got no response, so he pulled out his flashlight and took a look inside. 

"He peeked over the edge and in the bottom of the dumpster, a man and a woman (were) full-on nude, intertwined, oblivious to his presence," Price said, confirming the pair were in the act. 

The couple complied when ordered to put on their clothes and get out of the dumpster. 

A 26-year-old man was taken into custody  on an unrelated outstanding warrant. A 30-year-old woman was simply told to go home.

Jesus license plates in Florida

 Check out the proposed new religious license plates for the state of Florida: The "Trinity" plate proposed by Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, (see above).

Jesus is to be mass-produced, imprinted on metal, given a reflective coat and sold for money. His crown of thorns will lie just beneath the "FLORIDA" across the top of the plate; his outstretched arms will be truncated to the left and right by the tag numbers, so that one does not actually see the cross, the nails, the wounds — no, we would not have that! The words "SUNSHINE STATE" will be stamped across his unscathed, unlashed torso.

And yet, if even this censored Passion is still too strong for one's taste, the Legislature is producing an alternative "faith" plate as well, that one with a stained-glass window, a prettied-up cross and the slogan, "I Believe."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this a good idea? Is this freedom of religion?  Is this state endorsed religion?  Is this just tacky?

Englishwoman fined for noisy sex

ODD NEWS

A 47-year-old Englishwoman has been convicted of flouting a city order to keep her love-making sessions quiet, officials said.

The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that Caroline Cartwright, 47, was found guilty of breaching a noise abatement notice served on her after police received 25 complaints about her loud sessions with husband Steve.

She was fined more than $760, The Sun reported.

"I am not making the noise on purpose," she told magistrates in Sunderland. "I have no desire to hurt anybody or damage any property."

More Gun Control Please!

In Pittsburgh on Saturday, three police officers were murdered, reportedly by an assault-weapon wielding man shooting ‘hundreds of shots’ who apparently believed the gun lobby propaganda that an ‘Obama gun ban’ would lead to his ‘rights being infringed upon.’

This was just a day after 13 were gunned down in Binghamton, New York by a murderer who reportedly ‘hated America and talked about assassinating the President’ while his former co-workers felt that someday he might ‘come in mad one day and shoot people.’ These shootings were preceded by a month of shootings including eight shot dead in a North Carolina nursing home, five in a Santa Clara, California shooting, four police officers in Oakland and ten in Alabama.

After each horrific shooting, some leaders in Washington have said the solution is to do nothing, simply continue to enforce the existing laws, just as we have been doing.  The gun lobby, meanwhile, calls for weakening our already paltry laws to get more guns to more people in more places. It is time for the gun lobby to stop stoking fear among gun owners with false claims about the government.  It is time for the gun industry to stop capitalizing on those ginned-up fears to spread weapons of war among the public. 

The gun lobby’s rhetoric has consequences. Today, we have seen how profound those consequences can be.

“We have a gun crisis in America.  As important as the economic crisis is, the right to be safe at home and work and play needs at least as much attention from our policymakers as the right to economic security. It is time for leaders in Washington to drop empty platitudes after each horrific shooting, and instead do what they're paid to do: show backbone, and enact reasonable laws to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.  At the very least, require Brady background checks for all gun sales; restrict military-style assault weapons to the military and law enforcement and help law enforcement crack down on corrupt gun sellers.  What we’re doing now is not working.

UN adopts anti free speech resolution

The U.N.'s top human rights body has approved a proposal by Muslim nations urging the passage of laws protecting religion from criticism. Members of the Human Rights Council voted 23 in favor of a resolution Thursday to combat "defamation of religion." Eleven nations, mostly from the West, opposed the resolution and 13 countries abstained. The resolution was proposed by Pakistan. Muslim countries have cited the inflammatory effect of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as an example of unacceptable free speech. Critics say the resolution, while not binding, will have a chilling effect on free speech and may worsen relations between faiths. ------------------------------------------------------------------- This is bad news for anyone who values free speech. The UN has given cover to extreme fundamentalists (mainly Islamic); cover to torture, imprison and harass those who would dare to dissent.  The irony is that the resolution has very little to do with human rights. Rather than protecting people, the resolution offers protection to religions; a protection which can all to easily translate into protection for a state, a state guilty of violating human rights, the very human rights the UN ostensibly seeks to protect. Ironic, isn't it?

topics:  News and Politics,  Politics,  News,  Religion,  United Nations, Free Speech,  Humanism + add

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